wfn.org | Amendments Giving Commissioned Lay Pastors

[PCUSA.NEWS@pcusa.org]

12-March-1997 
97122 
 
            Amendments Giving Commissioned Lay Pastors 
      More Responsibilities Are Close to Receiving Approval 
 
                         by Julian Shipp 
 
LOUISVILLE, Ky.--The flood from the Ohio River is subsiding, but the tide 
of affirming votes for proposed amendments giving commissioned lay pastors 
the authority to carry out additional functions of ministry continues to 
rise in voting by presbyteries -- so much so that two of them are close to 
receiving ratification for inclusion in the "Book of Order." 
      
     For example, as of March 10 the official tally from the Office of the 
General Assembly (OGA) on Amendment I.9, assigning presbyteries original 
jurisdiction in disciplinary cases involving commissioned lay pastors, is 
81 presbyteries voting in favor and three voting against.  
 
     Moreover, the vote on Amendment I.6, granting lay pastors the 
authority to perform services of Christian marriage -- the only amendment 
that was even marginally close initially -- is 62 presbyteries voting in 
favor and 22 voting against. 
 
     Amendments giving commissioned lay pastors the authority to administer 
the sacraments of the Lord's Supper and baptism, to moderate sessions, and 
to have voice and vote in meeting of presbytery are also passing by huge 
margins. 
 
     A majority of the church's 171 presbyteries -- 86 -- must vote 
affirmatively on the amendments for them to become part of the  "Book of 
Order." 
      
     To ensure complete accuracy, the Presbyterian News Service will only 
report those presbytery votes that have been formally filed with the OGA. 
 
           Amendment I.6 (authority to perfom weddings)      
 
Affirmative (62): Baltimore, Boise, Carlisle, Central Florida, Central 
Washington, Cherokee, Chicago, Des Moines, Detroit, East Iowa, Eastern 
Oregon, Eastern Virginia, Eastminster, Florida, Glacier, Greater Atlanta, 
Indian Nations, Inland Northwest, John Calvin, John Knox, Kendall, Los 
Ranchos, Louisville, Middle Tennessee, Midwest Hanmi, Milwaukee, Minnesota 
Valleys, Muskingum Valley, New Covenant, New Hope, New York City, North 
Alabama, Northern Kansas, Northwest, Ohio Valley, Palo Duro, Peaks, 
Pittsburgh, Plains and Peaks, Providence, Redwoods, Riverside, Sacramento, 
St.  Augustine, San Joaquin, Santa Barbara, Santa Fe, Shenango, Shenandoah, 
Sierra Blanca, South Alabama, Southern Kansas, Susquehanna Valley, Tres 
Rios, Twin Cities Area, Utica, Western Kentucky, Western North Carolina, 
Whitewater Valley, Wyoming, Yellowstone and Yukon. 
 
Negative (22): Arkansas, Charleston-Atlantic, Coastal Carolina, Flint 
River, Foothills, Genesee Valley, Geneva, Heartland, Holston, Homestead, 
Memphis, Mississippi, New Harmony, Newark, North Central Iowa, Prospect 
Hill, St. Andrew, Salem, San Francisco, South Louisiana, Southwest and 
Trinity,  
 
        Amendment I.9 (jurisdiction in disciplinary cases) 
 
Affirmative (81): Arkansas, Baltimore, Boise, Carlisle, Central Florida, 
Central Washington, Charleston-Atlantic, Cherokee, Chicago, Des Moines, 
Detroit, East Iowa, Eastern Oregon, Eastern Virginia, Eastminster, Flint 
River, Florida, Foothills, Genesee Valley, Geneva, Glacier, Greater 
Atlanta, Heartland, Holston, Indian Nations, Inland Northwest, John Calvin, 
John Knox, Kendall, Los Ranchos, Louisville, Memphis, Middle Tennessee, 
Midwest Hanmi, Milwaukee, Minnesota Valleys, Mississippi, Muskingum Valley, 
New Covenant, New Harmony, New Hope, New York City, Newark, North Alabama, 
North Central Iowa, Northern Kansas, Northwest, Ohio Valley, Palo Duro, 
Peaks, Pittsburgh, Plains and Peaks, Prospect Hill, Providence, Redwoods, 
Riverside, Sacramento, St. Andrew, St.  Augustine, Salem, San Joaquin, 
Santa Barbara, Santa Fe, Shenango, Shenandoah, Sierra Blanca, South 
Alabama, South Louisiana, Southern Kansas, Southwest, Susquehanna, Tres 
Rios, Trinity, Twin Cities Area, Utica, Western Kentucky, Western North 
Carolina, Whitewater Valley, Wyoming, Yellowstone and Yukon. 
 
Negative (3): Coastal Carolina, Homestead and San Francisco. 

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